Music
Organized sound in time
Rhythm
Musical tune
Pitch
an individual sound that has both fundamental frequency and timbre
Note
a notated pitch with duration
Melody
any succession of notes
Motive (motif)
a brief succession of notes from which a melody grows through the process of repetition, sequence, and transformation
Tune
a singable, memorable melody with a clear sense of beginning, middle, and end
Theme
the principal musical idea in a given section of music
Conjunct Melody
a melody that features pitches that are relatively close together
Disjunct Melody
a melody that features pitches that tend to jump around
Texture
term that refers to the number of melodies present and the relationship of melody or melodies to accompaniment
Monophony
one unaccompanied melody
Polyphony
two or more simultaneous melodic lines of equal importance
Homophony
one predominant melodic line. With all other melodic material or accompaniment or secondary importance
Basso continuo (thorough bass)
the group of instruments that played the bass line and filled the functional harmonic progression (form of early improvisation)
Liturgical Music
Latin-(smooth, long vowels, and few sharp consonants)
Subject
the melodic theme of the fugue
Exposition
the first section of a fugue in which the subject is introduced in each voice
Opera
a stage spectacle that combines scenery, action, literary drama, and continuous (or almost continuous) music into a whole greater than its parts
Intermezzo/intermezzi
the sung commentaries inserted between acts of stage plays in the late Renaissance.
Recitative
a solo vocal declamation that follows the inflection of the text, often resulting in a disjunct vocal style.
Aria
A lyric song for solo voice and orchestral accompaniment, generally expressing intense emotion
Oratorio
an extended work for chorus, soloists, and orchestra; typically a sacred story performed without action or costumes and not part of any church service
Cantata
Shorter than an oratorio, but similar in most ways; both sacred and secular ________ were written; Lutheran church ________ were part of the Sunday worship service.
Mass
During the Baroque era, the Mass was based upon the five basic sections of the Ordinary of the mass, but they might be subdivided into sections.
Magnificat
a Latin language cantata based upon the story of the Virgin Mary
Passion
an oratorio based upon the events of Christ’s crucifixion
Motet
a cantata featuring an a cappella chorus
Ritornello
a melodic idea that returns periodically; a musical refrain.
Fugato
a passage that sounds like the exposition of a fugue in a piece that is not otherwise a fugue.
Fantasy/fantasia
free instrumental piece of fairly large dimensions, in an improvisational style
Toccata
virtuoso composition in a free and rhapsodic style
Rhapsody
an instrumental form irregular in form and suggestive of improvisation
Prelude
instrumental work intended to precede a larger work, usually in an improvisatory style
Passacaglia
a variation form in slow triple meter, based on a short repeated bass line melody
Ground Bass
a repeating melody, usually in the bass, throughout a vocal or instrumental composition
Chaconne
a variation form in which the variations are based upon a repeated chord
Tutti
“everything”, referring to all of the players, including soloists
Ripiendo
refers to the orchestra playing, but not the soloists
Concertino
“little ensemble”, referring to the soloists in a concerto grosso
Orchestral/Ripiendo Concerto
scored for strings and basso continuo alone; no particular soloists; the first violins usually play the melodic material
Solo Concerto
a single instrument soloist plays some or most of the melodic material
Concerto Grosso Concerto
features two or more soloists
Tutti
“everything,” referring to all the players, including soloists
Ripiendo
refers to the orchestra but not the soloists
Concertino
“little ensemble,” referring to the soloists (in a concerto grosso.)
Cosmopolitianism
the enlightenment principle which downplayed national differences; in music this was reflected in a common international musical style.
Amateurism
the performance of music as a hobby
Tonic
the first note in a musical scale (tonic triad: the triad based upon the first note in the musical scale)
Dominant
the fifth note in a musical scale (dominant triad: the triad based upon the fifth note in the musical scale)
Cadence
a resting place in a musical phrase; a musical punctuation mark
Half Cadence (also called an Open Cadence)
a cadence which resolves to the dominant, thus creating tension
Full Cadence (also called a closed, authentic, or standard cadence)
a cadence that resolves from the dominant to the tonic and creates some sense of rest
Deceptive Cadence (also called a false cadence)
a cadence that resolves, but not to the tonic
Plagal Cadence (also called an “amen” cadence)
a cadence which sometimes follows a full cadence at the very end of the passage